TITCH!!

Hi there!

Welcome to this week’s blog.

PSRN
By the end of the week, the children:
MUST be able to understand the concept of adding one more to a number
SHOULD be able to combine 2 sets of objects to 5 and beyond
COULD be able to combine 2 sets of objects to 10 and beyond

Over the years we have developed a way of supporting the children in their acquisition of the concept of addition by using a little mantra that goes like this:

COUNT, COUNT, TOGETHER, COUNT

The idea is that the children say the mantra to help them develop the sequence of counting out two sets, putting them together and then counting the totals.

Here are some websites you may wish to use to support your child:
http://demo.iboard.co.uk/screens/thread_home.htm?thread_id=8
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/laac/numbers/ch1.shtml - remember to add this to your favourites then it can be used for subtraction also.
http://www.ictgames.com/10pipe.html - this is a good website for finding the magical pairs to 10
http://ngfl.northumberland.gov.uk/maths/num%20machine/add1.html - put in a number and then add one more

CLL
MUST begin to use letters and sounds learnt so far to blend and segment simple CVC words
SHOULD begin to blend and segment using the phonemes ai, ee and igh
COULD incorporate words using phonemes learned so far when writing simple sentences

http://www.starfall.com/ - this is a great website. Perhaps make sure that your child focuses on the letters that they are working on for the week.
http://www.ictgames.com/cvc_machine.html - this game is great for helping your child to blend sounds together. You can select the pattern (choose those with the letters we have been working on) and then the children have to read the word and click on the tick if it is a real word.
http://www.crickweb.co.uk/assets/resources/flash.php?&file=cvcmaker - This again is a great website for blending three letter words together.
http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/learn_y4/main.asp?lesson_path=year_4/word_machine_c-v-c/&lesson_file=lesson.swf&language=eng - This helps the children see how three letter words are made up of a consonant, a vowel and then a consonant.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/wordsandpictures/cvc/crank/game.shtml - If your child is experiencing difficulties listening to the middle sound then this is a great game for them.
http://www.ictgames.com/machine - a great site for blending again. Look at the picture in the machine and click on the correct word to match it.
http://www.starfall.com/n/level-a/learn-to-read/load.htm?f - this has some of the different spelling patterns on.

Please remember to also practice those high frequency words and handwriting.

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
The children will learn how to handle tools, objects, construction and malleable materials safely with increasing control
· Parachute in PE games – co-ordination and gross motor skills
· Sewing – Easter cards
· Mother’s Day cards – painting

CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT
The children will develop their ability to work creatively on a large and small scale
· Easter card project will help improve fine motor skills (sewing)

KUW
The children will find out about and identify some features of living things, objects and events they observe.
· Reading ‘Titch’ the story
· Planting seeds and finding out what conditions they need for growth
· Looking at broad beans, spring blossom, hyacinth and crocus bulbs outside

Here I Am
The children will learn about what people do together in church. Perhaps you could visit St Joseph’s this week if you do not regularly attend already.

Additional information
· Tuesday is World Maths Day and the children will be doing lots of fun, practical activities to develop their maths skills.
· Please could you continue to support your child’s learning by helping them to write their full name in lower case? The children have been learning that although their name begins with a capital letter, the rest of their name is spelt in lower case. Thanks for your co-operation.


Mother’s Day Craft Fayre
Thank you for the contributions towards the Mother’s Day craft fayre at St.Joseph’s on Sunday from 11am-2pm. Many thanks for your generous donations from the non-uniform day yesterday.

Request
The children are more than half way through Foundation Stage now and are becoming gradually more independent. Could we ask that children come into school on their own in a morning, as we are getting quite a bit of congestion in the cloakrooms. This is resulting in a number of children being late for the register each morning and being unsettled for the start of the day.

Also, we have noticed a couple of polo shirts being worn. These are for the Summer term only, as are gingham dresses for the girls.

Could we also remind you, that bobbles, clips and hair bands should be black or blue. Visitors to our school always comment on the smartness of our children, so many thanks for your support with this.

I think that is all for this week!

Have a great one!

Jayne Narraway and the Foundation Stage Team xxx